AR Rahman all set for world tour

Music maestro AR Rahman will launch his world tour on June 11 with a show at the Nassau Coliseum here, followed by concerts across the US, Canada, France, Zurich, Holland and Britain.

In the US, the 45-day world tour titled AR Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour will take him to New Jersey, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Raleigh and Atlanta, according to the organisers.

Deepak Gattani of Rapport Productions with Amy Tinkham as creative director has produced the concert that promises to be a theatrical experience blending new technology with powerful dance arrangements and acrobatics.

"It will be a blend of the East and West, from Bharatnatyam to pop and tap dance," said Tinkham.

"The concert will break all barriers with a spectacular show of music and songs from the great music maestro who has won the prestigious Oscar, Grammy awards and numerous other world awards in the field of music," she added.

"The concert will keep intact the heritage and tradition of India with a new modern presentation. The show will feature changing sets, large images on LED screens and a spectacular cast of musicians and dancers from across the globe," Tinkham said.

The concert will span throughout Rahman's career, right from its inception with "Roja" to the latest hit "Slumdog Millionaire" which brought him the Oscar. Besides these, there will be songs from "Laagan", "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na", "Dil Se", "Rang De Basanti" and his other creations.

The producer, Deepak Gattani, said: "In the 150-minute musical spectacle, the very soul of India can be experienced. From the myths of rural India to the colours of the festivities, the rhythm and beats of the urban culture, this musical concert will have it all."

The music maestro will also travel by road in a bus during the tour. The entire team will move around in 53-foot air conditioned trailers with six touring coaches and one star coach ferrying the entire entourage.

"An international composer cannot make music that is purely national in quality," Rahman said.

"This will be the first time that I will be performing in London since winning the Oscar and so it is important to play music that will be accepted by an international audience but which retains an essential Indian quality," he added.